Real Reasons Arsenal Fell to Man City at Wembley: Kepa’s Howler and Arteta’s ‘Monumental Error’

While Mikel Arteta pointed to “missed moments” and a lack of clinical finishing, the post-mortem of Arsenal’s 2-0 Carabao Cup final defeat to Manchester City suggests a much deeper tactical collapse.

​Beyond the missed sitters in the first half, several key factors contributed to the Gunners losing out on the season’s first silverware. Gistlife takes a look at the real reasons the trophy is heading to the Etihad.

​The biggest talking point at Wembley was Arteta’s controversial decision to start backup goalkeeper Kepa Arrizabalaga over first-choice David Raya. While City’s deputy, James Trafford, made a stunning triple save early on to keep the game level, Kepa’s afternoon was a nightmare.

​The Spaniard’s inability to deal with Rayan Cherki’s cross in the 60th minute—letting the ball slip through his gloves—handed Nico O’Reilly the simplest of openers. Pundit Jamie Redknapp labeled the selection a “monumental error,” noting that in a major final, you cannot afford to leave your best players on the bench.

​Arsenal’s defense, usually so disciplined, completely lost track of City’s academy graduate Nico O’Reilly. The 21-year-old twice ghosted into the box to net two headers in just four minutes.

​The real issue was the lack of communication between the midfield and the backline. As Rayan Cherki and Matheus Nunes exploited the wings, Arsenal’s center-backs were occupied by Erling Haaland, leaving O’Reilly unmarked to punish the Gunners from close range.

​Arteta was right about one thing: Arsenal should have been out of sight before halftime. Kai Havertz and Bukayo Saka both had point-blank opportunities that were thwarted by Trafford.

​In a final of this magnitude, failing to score when you are “on top” is often a death sentence. By the time the second half started, City had adjusted their press, leaving Arsenal “stuck in the blocks” and unable to progress the ball past their own half for the first 20 minutes of the restart.

​Pep Guardiola’s decision to use Bernardo Silva in a hybrid playmaker role deep in the pitch caused chaos for Arsenal’s press. While the Gunners focused on neutralizing Rodri, Silva and Cherki found pockets of space that bypassed Declan Rice and Martin Ødegaard.

​Once City took the lead, the psychological blow was evident. Arsenal’s play became “scared,” and the substitutions of Gabriel Jesus and Gabriel Martinelli failed to provide the “moment of magic” needed to break a disciplined City defense.

​Arsenal’s defeat wasn’t just about bad luck; it was a combination of a high-stakes goalkeeping gamble that failed and a momentary defensive blackout. With the Premier League title race still in the balance, Arteta must ensure this Wembley “fire in the belly” doesn’t turn into a season-ending slump.